Tag: collision repair

Your insurance company may recommend a body shop they work with and that meets their criteria. Know the perks and drawbacks of using a recommended shop.

When you are involved in a car wreck, you may not have the time to research where you want your car fixed. Your insurance company may make a recommendation for their preferred auto body shop. It may save some hassle to choose this shop, but you have the right to choose where you want your vehicle repaired.

Considerations

Firstly, look to see if your recommended shop is certified. This means that the technicians at that location have completed rigorous training by the manufacturer to repair that vehicle model. An insurance company may or may not recommend a body shop that offers certified repair.

You might also have your own preferences based on recommendations, your past experience, or a shop that specializes in a specific type of repair (some people prefer a shop that’s more eco-friendly or a shop that has techs certified on their make of vehicle).

Using your insurance recommendation

The majority of insurance companies have a list of auto body shops with which they have established relationships. These shops meet their criteria, which may include cheaper prices and fast repairs. Or, they might choose a shop for their quality repairs and certifications. This is why it’s best to look into shops before choosing.

For whatever shop you choose, be sure to ask questions. Do they use manufacturer parts or aftermarket parts? Does the shop have good reviews on Yelp and Google? Do they offer a lifetime warranty on their work?

Perks of a recommended body shop

Using a body shop recommended by your insurance company can have benefits. Ask if your insurance provider will guarantee the repairs for as long as you own it. If the repairs do not hold up at any time while you own the car, your insurance company will take care of this and you will not have to pay.

Using a recommended body shop can also save time. It may save you money as well, if your insurance will not fully cover another shop you prefer.

Fogle Collision Centers works with all insurance companies. We are considered a preferred collision center with most providers. Because we believe in providing you the highest quality repairs, we always use OEM, or original equipment manufacturer, parts to ensure they fit, will function properly, and your car maintains its value.

Anytime you have work done on your vehicle, it’s typically expected that the repair will last. However, that’s not always the case. Some shops are trained better than others, repair techs can make mistakes, or car parts may not perform as expected. This is why it is important to have the auto body repairs made at a shop that offers a lifetime warranty.

If a body shop offers lifetime warranty, this means that they guarantee the work performed will be the best quality. Should anything go wrong with the repairs, they’re willing to fix it free of charge.

The benefits of lifetime warranty

A warranty is similar to the idea of insurance. It’s there should you need it. Typically, a lifetime warranty is good for as long as you own the vehicle. If a problem occurs with any of the repairs made, months or years later, you can take it back to that body shop to be fixed with no cost to you.

The collision repair shop will be out the cost of the warranty repair work. When it loses money on repairs, that shop will likely review what went wrong. They will want to learn how to correct it so the repairs will last in the future.

Multiple warranties

The best time to inquire about a lifetime warranty is when you get the estimate. Ask if there are different types of warranties offered. Some collision repair centers will offer more than one warranty, one for body work and a separate one for any paint services.

Fogle Collision Centers, an auto body shop in Houston, we stand behind the work we do on your car by offering a National Limited Lifetime Warranty for body work and the Axalta Nationwide Guarantee for any paint work.

It’s more convenient than ever to get an estimate on your phone. However, to know the extent of the damage, a technician should inspect your vehicle.

When a car has been in a wreck, some of the damage will be obvious. You’ll have broken taillight or a dented door, or a crunched hood. What is not immediately noticeable, and may be impossible to see unless you are an expert, is any damage that may be behind the body of the vehicle.

Technicians are trained to look for damage in the operating parts and the computer system within a car. They can determine if there is further damage beyond the cosmetics of the vehicle.

A dent may not be just a dent

Never assume that if a collision is minor that the damage is just a dent. For example, if someone backs into your car and puts a dent in your car door, there could be further damage inside, such as the power windows not operating properly.

If the dents are much larger and caved into the vehicle, the car should definitely be inspected by a technician for safety reasons.

Review the estimate

When you bring your vehicle in to a body shop, the location should give you a repair estimate. This estimate explains the cost for parts and the labor to repair the vehicle. Be sure to review the estimate and ask any questions before the work begins so that you have a good understanding of what you are paying to fix.

Many collision centers, like Fogle Collision, will offer free estimates. To get a preliminary estimate, you can use our new Smartphone Estimating Tool. You will get a repair estimate within 24 hours of submitting photos. However, we can fully determine the damage once a technician takes a close look at the vehicle.